First national conference on historic, religious, and archaeological sites in Lebanon

The first national conference on historic, religious, and archeological sites in Lebanon was launched on Thursday with the participation of top political, social and religious figures, among them FPM leader Michel Aoun, Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel, Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Rai, Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani, Jaafarite Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Kabalan, Druze Spiritual Leader Sheikh Naim Hassan(Akel) and Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorios III Lahham.

Environment Minister Nazem El-Khoury said that continuous negligence caused the damage of most of the religious archaeological sites throughout the country.

For his part, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said that these sites are a proof of Lebanon’s greater heritage that translates the coexistence between religions, calling for the cooperation between the officials to maintain this legacy.

Charbel added that President Michel Sleiman will exert all possible efforts to promote dialogue on all levels, emphasizing that this conference is a national testimony that the Lebanese can be united.

Telecommunications Ministry Nicolas Sehnaoui, revealed that the number of pilgrims who visit Lady of Lebanon in Harissa reaches an estimated 1,200,000 every year, urging officials to set a plan to enhance religious tourism in Lebanon and profit from new technologies to promote it.

Druze Spiritual Leader Sheikh Naim Hassan affirmed that Lebanon is an exceptional specimen of Muslim and Christian coexistence, stating that this is a blessing the Lebanese should hold on to.

In this regard, Jaafarite Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Kabalan stressed that Lebanon has been a crossroad of civilizations over the centuries.